Summary

Introduction from the book:

Frozen meat, and the establishments in which it is prepared, may seem a fairly mundane topic to many people. However the erection of Ross River meatworks, started in Townsville in 1891, had tremendous economic, social and political consequences, not only for the northern city, but for the whole state. Some observers believed that the establishment of meat processing,. plants was necessary for the maintenance of Imperial links and in times of war, others considered meatworks "important units in the Empire food supply".

In many ways the history of this works is a microcosm of the history of Queensland. All the major issues of the day were encapsulated in the development of the enterprise. For instance, regional rivalry which has been the hallmark of Queensland history was clearly evident when Queensland Meat Export & Agency directors were making decisions about the location of freezing works throughout the state.

Like Queensland's past, Ross River meatworks' history is very much a story of conflict. The conflict between employees and employers springs readily to mind in this industry but it is also an account of conflict between processors and producers, between the interests of the domestic and international markets, between the desire for government regulation and the fear of losing control of the industry, within the local population who welcomed the economic benefits but not the smells of the Ross River works. Indeed it has often seemed that the only allies of the operators of meatworks were those involved in the same activity.

There is also ample evidence of agrarian socialism at work and of Labor governments taking a strong state's rights stance when it came to the export of meat. Moreover Queenslanders have a long history of fearing an invasion from the north. The establishment of a sound cattle industry and a network of meatworks was seen as a solution to this perennial problem.

By necessity this history has largely been reconstructed from public records. Newspapers have been an invaluable source, particularly as in the earlier period it was common for the company's annual report to be reproduced in full. Extensive use has also been made of photographs to reproduce a pictorial account of the history of the Ross River meatworks side by side with a more detailed description in the text.